Machine eoe



Filed June 2 L E CURTIS lMACHINE! FOR TYING BUNDLES .OF EXPANDED METALAug-1 8, 1925.

Filed June 25, 1924 1111111111 l1 1 1, K. hm

L E' CURTIS MCHINE FOR TYING BNDLES OF EXPANDED METAL Aug. 18; 1925.

Aug. 1s, 1925. 1,550,348v

L. E. CURTIS 1IIIACHIINE FOR TYING BUNDLES OF EXPANDED METAL Filed Jun@`2s, 1924 17 sheets-sheet s Aug. '18, 1925.

` 1,550,348 1,.. E. CURTIS l.

MACHINE FOR TYING BUNDLES OF EXPANDED METAL l Filed June 23, 1924 17heebS-Sheet 4 m w1 w e l @9j/M@ M6936 Filed Junef'Z. 1924 L E CURTISMACHINE FOR TYING BUNDLES OF EXPANDED vMETAL Aug. 18, 19.25. 1,550,348

|.. E. cuRls' muslims Fon TYING BUNDLES. oF EXPANDED msm.

Filed June' 23. 1924 17 Sheets-Sheet 6 Aug.4 1 8, 1925.

.| E. cuRTls HACHINE FOR TYING BUNDLES OF EXPANDED METAL Filed June 23,

HIHIIIIIII HIIIIIIII Aug. 1s, 192s. 1,550,348

L. E. CU RTlS MACHINE FOR TYING BUNDLES -OF EXPANDED METAL Filed Junev25. 17 Sheets-Sheet 8.

Aug.' 18, i925. f y

L. E. CURTIS IIAQHINEl FOR TYNG BUNDLES EXPANDED METAL Filed June 2s.1924.

17 Spee/ts-sneve't sA Aug. 18, 1925. n 1,550,348

L. E. CUR-ns HCHEINE FOR TYING BUNDLES OF EXPANDED METAL Filed June 23,1924 17 Sheets-Sheet 1o Aug.4 18,1925. 1,550,348

. L. E. CURTIS MACHINE FOR TYING BUNDLES 0F EXPANDED METAL Filed June23, 1924 17 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 1s, 1925'. 1,550,348

' L. E. CURTIS `IIACHIINH`EOR TYING BUNDLES OF EXPANDED METALriladau'neA 25,. 1924 1.7 sheets-sheet 1sl 1,550,348 L. E. cum'xs YMACHINE FOR TYING BUNDLES OF EXPANDED METAL Filed June 23, 1924 17ShBefSv-Shee' 14 Aug. 18, 1925.

Aug. 18, 1925..' l 1,550,348

- L. E. CURTIS uAcHmE pon T/YING BuNpLEs oF EXPANDED METAL I Filed June25, 1924 17 Sheets-Sheet 15 ""mllum Aug; 1s, 192s. 1,550,348

L. E. CURTIS MACHINE FOR TYING BUNDLES OF EXYANDED METAL lFna@ June 2z.1924 17 sheets-sheet 1e Aug. 18, 1925; 1,550,348

L. E. CURTIS MACHINE FOR TYING BUNDLES OIF BXPANDED METAL Filed June 23,1924 17 Sheets-Sheet 17 Patented Aug. is, 1925.

UNITED STATESv n 1,550,348N n PATENT oFF-ICE..

LEVIS E. CRTIS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN ASSIGNOR TO THE YOUNGSTOWNPRESSED STEEL CO'IVIPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO. i i

MACI-INE FOR TYING BUNDLES OF EXPANDED METAL.

Application filed .Tune 23, 1924. Serial` No. 721,814.

To all whom; it may concern! Be it known that L'Lnwis E. CURTIS; acitizen of the United States; residingat Mil waukee; in the county ofMilwaukee and State of lVisconsin, have invented a new and usefulimprovement in itaohines for Tying Bundles of Expanded Metal; oil whichthe vfollowing is a specilication.

This invention relates to machines for tying bundles of expanded metaland the like; and is fully described in the following specification andshown in the drawings; in which:

Figure 1 and F igurelf" together constitute a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 2 and Fig. 2a together Viiorm a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a section of the drive on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2a; l

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section oi the same on the line 4 of Fig. 3; yi

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5 oi' Fig. la;

Fig. G is a transverse section on the line 6 of Fig. 2; l

Fig. 7 is a partial transverse section on the line 7 of Fig. 1n; y j

Fig. 8 is partial longitudinal section on the line 8 of Fig. 7;

Figs. e, 10, 1i, is, verse sections as of Fig. 2;

Fig. is a the Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged front elevation partly in section of the.stapling head as shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 17 is a partial longitudinal section on the line 17 of Fig. 16showing the wire Vfeeding mechanism; f

Fig. 18 and F ig. 18a together constitute a vertical section on the line18 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 19 is a section" on the line 19 of Fig. 1S showing the operatingparts of the stapling head;

Fig. 20 is an enlarged detailed view of the plunger and needles of Fig.19;

Figs. 21; 22 and 23 are horizontal sections on the lines 21, 22 and 24of Figs. 18 and 19;

Figs. 24 and' 2.5 are partial sections similar to Fig. 18, hut showingthe parts of the stapling head in variouspositions during the operationof 'stapling; f

13 and 14 are transshown by the dotted lines partial section on the lineof accompanying* lshowing the operating head Figs. 26 and 27 are planand front elevations respectively of the slider which grips the pile ofexpanded metal to he bundled;

Fig. 28 is a detail of the anvil about which y thestaple is formed; f

Figs. 29 and 30 are sections under lines 29 and 30 respectively of Fig.16;

Fig. 3l is a front elevation of the shear for cutting the wire; Y

Fig. 32 is a front elevation of the needles which protect the wire whilepassing through the pile of expanded metal;

Fig. 33 is a view similar to Fig. 16; but

moved tostapling position; Y i

Fig. 34 is an enlarged section on the line 34 oi' Fig. 33 showing themechanism for gripping and twisting the wire;

Fig. 35 is a detailed side elevation of the wire gripping mechanism; p

Fig.l 36 is Va vertical section on the line 36 of Fig. 35;

Fig. 37 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 38 is a similar view showing the. circular guard and bar upon whichthe wire is bent removed; n

Fig. 39 is a horizontal section on the line -3301: Fig. 36;

Figs. 40, 41, 42 and 43 are perspective views of details of the gripmechanism;

Fig. 44 is a horizontal section on the line 44-44 of Fig. 45;

Fig. 45 is a vertical section on the line 45-45 of Fig. 44; K f

- Fig. 46 is an enlarged vertical section similar'to Fig. 33 showing thestaple passing through the pile of expanded metal and ready to begripped by the gripping and twisting mechanism; f

Fig. 47 is a similar view staple twisted; and

Fig. 48 is a diagrannnatic view of the machine showing a number ofpileso expanded metal thereon.

The embodiment illustrated comprises a main frame having end members 50and 5l bolted to a base 52 which carries a horizontal table 53 in whichslide the chains which feed the piles of expanded metal asy will laterhe explained.

Briefly, the operations of the machine consists oi' forming two staplesfrom straight pieces oi wire; passing these staples showing the overopposite edges of the pile B which lie beneath the operating head asshown in Fie. 46, and forcing at least one side 0f the staple throughthe pile, twisting the lower ends of said staples to secure the bundle,advancing the conveyor chains the desired distance between staples, andrepeating the stapling operation the desired number of times on thebundle, when the machine is automatically stopped with the next pile ofexpanded metal sheets brought into position for the first staplingoperation.

Beginning now with the power drive and referring to Fig. 1, the driveshaft 5l is journallcd in suitable bearings and is driven by means of agear 55, journalled thereon as shown in Fig. fland held between a` seteollar 56 and the gear 57 both of which are secured to the shaft 54.Dent-al clutch teeth are formed on the hub 55- of the gear which areadapted to engage similar teeth on the face of the sliding clutch 5Swhich is keyed on the shaft 54.

Springs 59 normally tend to hold the clutch elements in engagementf Thesliding clutch element 58 has a cam 60 formed thereon which is adaptedto be engaged by a pin (il carried by a bell crank G2 which is pivotallymounted at G3. This bell crank carries a roller 641 which rides upon theface of a cam G5 which lis carried by a shaft 00 as shown in Figs. laand 3,the latter being driven by a gear 57 which meshes with the gear5'? on the shaft 54. The gears 57 and 6T are` so proportioned that fourrevolutions of the shaft 5leause one revolution of the shaft 0G so thatthe depressed portion of the cam (55 is brought against the cam follower6%, thereby permitting the spring (3S to force the pin 61 into the pathof the cam G0 .so that on the next revolution the shaft 54 the cam 50will be forced past the pin 61 thereby withdrawing the clutch element 58and disengaging it from the driving member 55a.

vWhile the drive gear is in operation, the operator grasps the lever GSas shown in Fig. 3 forcing it to the right and holding it in thisposition 'until theI springs 59 force the clutch element 58 intoengagement with the teeth ou the hub of the gear 55.

The driving gear 55 will then drive thel shaft four complete revolutionswhen the cam G5 will automaticall): throw the clutch out of engagen'untas hs been previously explained Sha-ft 5st carries a mutilated orsegmental gear G9 which meshes with they pinion 70 on the shaft T1, thesegmental gear turning the pinion T0 through one complete revolution oneach revolution of the shaftl 54. These gears are also supplied with aGeneva gear attachment 72 which prevents the shaft T1 from turningexcept when driven by the segmental gear 69. A bevel gear 73 on the 'Awhere they are picked up by the cleats shaft 71 drives the bevel gear 74on the shaft '75, these shaft-s being liournalled in suitable b'earings.The. shaft 75 carries two head sprockets 7G which drive two parallelconveyor chains 77 which slide in the angles 53a as shown in Fig. 5,these chains passing around tail-sprockets 7S as shown in Fig. 8. 'lheshaft T5 also carries sprockets 79 which drive a conveyor chain 80, theforward end passing over sprockets S1.

'lheseconveyors receive piles of expanded metal which are placed on theconveyors at on chains 77, these cleats being spaced at predeterminedintervals so as to maintain a proper distance betweenthe piles as shownby A, B, C, l), and E of Fig. lll, so ythat the bundling or tyingoperatie which will later be descriliied, will come at predeterminedpoints in the length of the piles as they advance.

Referring again to Fig. 1a the shaft 54 nas keyed thereon a Geneva gear82 meshing with a pinion 83 on the cam shaft Sil. These gears are sotimed that they do not begin to operate until after the shaft 71 and thetwo conveyors just described have come to rest. lThis shaft, too isturned just one revolution before being brought to rest and carries aseries of cams S5, 8G, and S7 as shown in Figs. 9, 10, and l1. The camshave cam followers 85a, 86 and 87a which are pivotally mounted on arms88, 89 and 90 which are pivotally mounted at their inner ends on a rod91. Links 92, 93 and 9st are pivotally connected at their ends to theouter ends of these links and levers 95, 90 and 97 which are keyed toshafts 9S, 99 and 100 respee tivelv, the latter being journalled in themain frame castings 50 and 51 as shown in Figs. 5 and These shaftslargely control the parts of the stapling head which acts to tie thebundle of expanded metal on one side, a similar set of shafts 98a, 99aand 100 controlling similar n'iechanism for` ying the opposite sides ofthe bundles. Gears 101V` 102 and 103 carried by the shafts 9S, 99 and100 mesh with similar gears 101 and 103 on the shafts 98a, 99a and 100.

Bundle (/rippag mec/www1.

The shaft 100 controls the bundle grip-- ping mechanism and has a lever`lll-l keyed thereon and to this is pivotally connected a link 105 theopposite end of which is pivotally connected to a bloeit 106 which isslidably mounted in a guideway 107 as shown in Fig. 22. p

As the block 106 starts down, a cut-ting tool 108 adjustably heldthereon by a plate 108 and screws 108", as shown in Figs. 16 and 31,passes the end of the guide 109 shearing of'l the wire F which has pre--viously been fed therethrough by a mechanism which will later bedescribed. The

Tia'

lll() wire F as it is cut oif is held between the groove in the anvil110 and the lower face of the plunger 111 which isslidably mounted inthe block 106 and connected to the shaft 98 by means of aVconnecting-link 112 and lever arm 112 which is secured to the shaft 98.The wire F is thus held between the plunger 111 and the anvil 110 whilethe block 106 descends until the anvil is swung out of theway, as shownin Fig.

Staple forming mechanism.

A needle holding block 113 is also slide.- bly mounted in the guide-way10'? and is operably connected to the shaft 99 by means of a link 113nand lever 113b which is secured to the shaft 99. The block 113 as shownin Fig. 32 has a pair of grooved needles 114 secured thereto as byscrews 1141. rlhese needles extend downwardly and are slidably mountedin grooves 114b in the block 106 (F ig.26). These needles have grooves114C on their facing' sides as shown ,in Figs. 20 and 22 so as to permita bar 115 on the lower end of the plunger 111 to pass therethrough.

, Tith the plunger 111 hoiding the wire F upon the anvil 110, they block106 descends bending the ends of the wire .about the anvil 110 to formastaple passing through thev guide ways 1141 The needli` 114 thendcscend, the wire Fbeing forced into their grooves thus completing theformation of the U-shaped staple.

Staple setting mechanism.

The anvil 110 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 116 and is maintained invthe position shown in Fig. 24 by means of ears 11T which bear againstthe back of the block 106. The latter, however, has a slot 118 27) whichpermits it to pass over the anvil 110 and two parallel slots 119 areformed on the back of the block which are so located that theyregisterwith the ears 11'?, thereby permitting the anvil 110 to swing about thepin 116 and out of the way of the plunger 1,11, when the block 106 hasreached a point near the lowervend of its movement as shown in Fig. 25.V 1

During the descent of the block 106 and the wire plunger 111, theneedles 114 have been descending, iirstto complete the formation of astaple and second to guide the staple which they now surround on threesides through the meshes B of the metal in the bundle B as shown inFigs. 33 and 46. At the'same time the plunger 111 is moving down andcontinues to move` down until it presses the staple F upon the top ofthebundle B as shown in Fig. 25. The needles 114 then start to withdraw,exposing the lower ends of the staple F'. These ends then entend downbetween the jaws 120 and121 oftheV gripping mechanism (Figs. 34 and 46),which then close so as to grip these lower ends of the staple as willnow be eX# plained.

Staple grippe/ig und twist-ng narco/infliger.

Referring now to Fig. 12, the Geneva gear 122 keyed lon the cam shaft S4meshes with the pinion 123 on the worin wheel shaft 124. rFliese gearsare so proportioned that the worm wheel sh aft 124 is turned tworevolutions for each'revolution ofthe cam sha-ft 84. L

The worm wheel shaft 124 (F ig. 16) has a worm wheel 125 lkeyed thereonwhich drives a worin 126 keyed on the vertical sleeve 127, the latterbeing journalled in sui-table bearings 123 and 126, and having anactuating rod 130 slidably mounted therein, the lower end of rthisrodcarrying pins Vwhich are slidable in the bi1'urcatedv end of t-helever 132. This lever is keyed to a shaft 133 which is provided withsuitable bearings and has a cani follower arm 134 which carries a`circular cam follower 135 which rides upon the cam 136, (as shown inFig. 14,) the latter being keyed upon the cam shaft 84. A spring 137(Fig. 34) holds this cani follower against the face of the cam 136. Asthe cam shaft 84 revolves in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 14,the follower 135 drops oii the shoulder 136a ofA the cam 136, therebypermitting j the spring 137 to draw down the rod 130.

The latter has a rounded head 136 which is placed between the roundedlower ends of the jaws 120 and 121, the latter being pivotally mountedon pins and 140 iixed inthe spaced projecting lugs 12'?au in which thesleeve 127 terminates.v V c' c v This downward vmovement of the rounded-end 138 spreadsthe lower ends of these jaws, vcausing the uppershouldered ends to firmly F. As shown in Figs. 41 and 42, these vjawsare preferably supplied with steel gripping elements 120a and 121d whichare secured to the jaws 120 and 121by means of screws 141 and 142. thecircular guard 143 shown in Figs. 40

' and 46 throughwhich the ends of the staple 1+ pass.

A bar 144 (Figs. 43 and 47) is secured to the jaw 120 and serves as anvabutment about which the wire staple is twisted, as will later beexplained. A spring 145 between the jaws 120 and 121 tends to hold thelatter normally separated.l t

While the ends of the staple F are gripped by the jaws 120 and 121, thegear 122 turns y the pinion 123`and the shaft 124two cornple-terevolutions, thereby turning the gripping jaws one and one-halfrevolutions through the worm 126 and the worin wheel 125.l At thebeginning of this twisting operation'the staple appears as shown in Fig.

grip the lower ends of the wire vstaple c The latter screws also retain

